Dispatches from the South: Demonization of Venezuelan Constitutional Reforms Increases

Two weeks ago a series of alarming articles began to circulate in the international press about Venezuela's constitutional reform process. At a speed not matched even during Venezuela's 2006 presidential elections, newspaper readers were inundated with wrongdoing after wrongdoing allegedly committed by President Chavez. Reuters, the LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post, and many more characterized the democratically elected president of that South American nation as a strongman hoping to consolidate power through the passage of some 69 constitutional updates. Polls were cited, opposition leaders were quoted, and the general tone was set: the reforms are inherently undemocratic and serve only to centralize state power.

The following week, after the groundwork had already been laid, some of those same news dailies issued editorials expanding upon their already existing bias. The Chicago Tribune wrongly reported that the reforms would bar due process during states of emergencies. The Washington Post claimed- against all evidence- that the reforms would curtail freedom in Venezuela. The Washington Times inaccurately stated that Chavez "controls most major Venezuelan media", an allegation easily refuted by a quick internet review of Venezuela's print and TV media. This particularly uninformed editorial followed an opinion piece earlier in the month penned by none other than long time Cold War player, Oliver North, who believes Chavez has "pulled a coup" on the Venezuelan people. Similar and more egregious opinion pieces were disseminated in the national press.

However, if you still weren't sold on the idea that constitutional reform was undemocratic, you were led to believe that Venezuelan's just weren't sophisticated enough to determine their own path. An opinion piece published by the Los Angeles Times over the weekend served as a case in point. "Venezuela's path to self-destruction" by William Ratliff concluded that although Venezuelans would likely approve a set of constitutional reforms in early December they would not have done so on their own accord. Rather, they will have been duped by the President and sadly won't realize until it is too late.

As the reform vote nears, and Venezuelans mobilize to express their will at the ballot box this Sunday, it is imperative that we hold the press accountable. During the next few days please check the VIO homepage and news section for more balanced coverage on the process unfolding there. You can also submit your own opinion by authoring an oped and sending it in to your local paper.

Read this weeks more balanced news on Venezuela here.